Comments

I agree that half of the games I witnessed were uninspired football. Lack of passion which hurts more than losing. How do you change that? Competition. We brought in a REALLY small recruiting class last year, we need to make a splash with the new stadium being built in this years class.

I think most of you have issues with memory or perception. The system FAU uses works, the facilities will get better and we will get back to where we were and better. The problem is the players. I can't believe it was the same team that played FIU and won as the team that played Troy and got prison-raped.

They probably need to let Howard retire, name the field after him, give him a statue and private box to let him watch. They also need to annouce this, as well as his successor, in the next few weeks so they can use this next year to recruit for the future and to motivate the last group of players to play for Howard as it seems these players have motivation issues.

Keep the pro-style offense and use it as a recruiting tool. Sitting in a kids living room and telling him "how'd you like to learn to play in the NFL 4 years before the other guys?" is powerful stuff. There are plenty of examples of spectacular college spread-style athletes that flopped in the NFL because they couldn't adapt to the system fast enough.

I'm not mad at FIU, I'm not jealous of them and we shouldn't be. They're doing what we did 2 years later and we still beat them (again) in the regular season. They're finally having ONE good season and they still haven't won their bowl and they still might not. Long term they won't be able to keep up with this program, they'll always be in the shadow of "The U".

scott that's not the point. the point is that fau people are laughing at fiu for making it to a bowl in detroit while their team is sitting at home. idiot. of course you were able to get into fau with your low comprehension level.

Hey I hate fiu, FAU football only been 1 year longer but has been to 2 bowl games already. At least FAU is willing play the top teams from the big 10, big 12(soon to be former big 12), and sec. FAU's 2011 first 3 games are against Florida, Michigan State and Auburn on the road.

Let Howard finish his contract next year and go out in an amicable manner and be seen a the proud founder. The problem with recruiting at FAU is no publicity before signing day. Back in the day this was fine. But today if kids don't get attention from a school publicly they are liable to go elsewhere and often do. While watching both the MTSU and Troy games there was a constant refrain of a Floridian playing for the other team this should not happen! Even when FIU was horrible they still got the bigger name talent with stars(whether or not stars mean anything is irrelevant) stars are based on prestige by scouting companies. If your program doesn't get those star players there could be a negative perception reflected on the program. As to the problem with FAU's defense I still believe it would be better to switch to a 3-4 we have a few quality D-lineman and better depth at LB and better athletes in the secondary(bartel is not a free safety at best a strong safety and even better special teams player) But another major problem is FAU's overall inflexibility to change schemes on offense...we simply did not have the personnel to execute a pro-style offense and continued to disregard the evidence to the detriment of the season. The positive is we have a new stadium(Ocean View stadium Howard Schnellenberger field) Alfred Morris will return, so here's to next season Go Owls!

Yes Florida has fast players, but how many of those does FAU actually sign? Very few!!!
MANY recruits sign with programs out of state (Troy has what 28 players, Iowa State something like 18, and MTSU bunches too). Bottom line, much of the "speed" goes out of state to play for our rivals or the "big boy" schools. Oh, and there are six other FBS schools in the state too don't forget.

Our recruiting has been so bad the past three years we have next to nothing on the bench. look at the Troy game, senior qb throwing to serion wr's and te late in the 4th qtr, of a 0-37 blowout!

Which goes back to why our recruiting is so bad, sit behind Bartels or a Holley, a senior wr with like a 7 yard per catch average for the seaon. Great game by Holley or not (one in 4 years should cut it right?), I don't think so! Why did we not get REAL game experience for next years returning underclassmen? It's a mystery to me!

Why do so many alums/fans/and supporters on this blog...get it... and the administration and Angelos don't ...Howard is a great guy...we get it...we love the whole grampappy thought process here in a town which is famous for retirees....But it doesn't produce wins on the field...plain and simple ..Something has to be done quick ..or this will carry into the next 3 years...ps...that doesn't look good on anyones resume'..

I have to agree with booster that next year we will be just as bad on defense if #27 is starting. I give him credit for making it to a starter from being a walk on but, it is sad that we can't get anyone better to play that position. We still have 1-AA try players in too many areas. Hopefully this stadium can attract better talent.

I went to the MTSU road game and Hands Down FAU Has Much Better Facilities and City than Middle Tennessee to work with. All the they had was a stadium on campus and now they won't have that as an edge. I don't want to hear the facilities excuse anymore because now with the stadium FAU without debate has the nicest in the Sunbelt!

First things First. Howard (although a legend, and the reason FAU even has a football program and two bowl victories) needs to go. I am one of his biggest supporters, and am thankful for what he has done here, but his time has come. FAU needs to get a young and energetic coach in there that will motivate the players and coaches. But i do hope that the new coach keeps the pro style system. The fau teams in the past prove that we can win with that system... Secondly, in every single game this year, both offensive and defensive lines got dominated due to the lack of strength. I know you say the offensive line is young, but they should have atleast been working out as soon as they got on campus so they didnt get absolutely man handled. And the D-Line was demolished on multiple occasions. WHY ARENT WE A STRONG TEAM!!!!! Is it the lack of drive for the guys to work out? Or is it the lack of coaching they have in the weight room? Back when Tony Smith was our strength coach, is when we won our two bowl games, and had the best team we ever had. Maybe instead of saying we dont have D1 players, maybe we dont have a D1 strength program to get our players ready for the season!

Agreed, you cannot practice against a pro style offense everyday, all season long, and be prepared to play a spread offense on Saturdays. I don't care how much film you watch. The D needs to practice against the the offense and the plays that they will see on Saturday. That is why we consistently get beat by the big plays out of the Spread. I don't care if Howard thinks his scheme better prepares kids to play in the NFL. No one is going to the NFL if we don't win on Saturday. No one operates a pro style in college anymore, at least if they want to win they don't. As Ted stated in the article, it's just easier to prepare, play, and win with the Spread. Let them learn the pro offense when they get to the NFL, just like every other draft pick has to these days. It is nice that Howard wants to prepare these kids for what they will see in the future, but his job is to win games here at FAU, not get kids drafted. The coaching staff's eye is not on the prize here. the college game has changed, and our coaches are behind the times.

I saw the article in the Sun-Sentinal with the free safety Bartels saying he will take the bad taste into the off season and be ready for next year. That's the first place to start. Replacing Bartels and the other inferior players who are not D1 talent. Open the competition. No player (besides Morris) should be penciled in as a starter. Make every player EARN playing time and not start players just because they have been starters. Find energized coaches who hold players accountable for mental and physical mistakes. Play the players who work the hardest and who actually "performs" the best in practice.....

I cant belive you friggin idiots are laughing at fiu right now. deep down inside you all know that you'd be thumping your chests if you made it to that pathetic bowl. i can hear it now "another bowl berth for fau" "we made another bowl game" "this program is on the way up" "yay, look at us"

to all fau fans who think this bowl game is funny, what bowl are you plaing in this year? oh, thats right. you are not even qualified to make it to one.

I can hear it now, everytime someone criticizes you people it's the same thing, "well... we're only in our 10th year or whatever. this is a new program, look at all that we HAVE accomplished.
Idiots.

The solution is simple...and it seems every other school in the nation gets it....when the team loses consistently..like FAU has...the other schools get a new head coach...that simple...The notion that Howard came to FAU because no one else would take the job is a falsehood...He wanted the gig...The idea that no one else would take the job without being paid crazy money is ludicrous...The idea that he has to stay because it is the right thing to do ...is even more insane...The brainwashing that has gone is as lengendary as Howard ..All the "Howard Supporters" would say "where would we be without Howard?...like FIU" ...that what was being said...well they are going bowling...and needless to say the recruiting as said on this blog is actrocious...Everyone is so afraid that we will get a new coach that will get FAU rockin'...and then leave ...Well guess what...that is Big Time College Football...the mindset at FAU and the fan base needs to be adjusted....Well...that is if you want to win...

I was at the game. To say the defense has improved over last year is a falsehood. Troy's offense methodically took them apart. Question: was the defense ever taught to defend the sidelines? Troy burned us outside both passing and running. As for speed in South Florida - a couple of friends who watched the game on TV noted that Troy was noticeably faster. Maybe the real reason is what you said - lack of pride and urgency. Maybe too many were just happy to be playing college football. Changing coaches may or may not help. The scribes at the Silly-Sentinel like quick fixes. Today one of the columnists wants the Dolphins to change quarterbacks because a receiver dropped a pass. Shouldn't they change receivers?

I was at the game. To say the defense has improved over last year is a falsehood. Troy's offense methodically took them apart. Question: was the defense ever taught to defend the sidelines? Troy burned us outside both passing and running. As for speed in South Florida - a couple of friends who watched the game on TV noted that Troy was noticeably faster. Maybe the real reason is what you said - lack of pride and urgency. Maybe too many were just happy to be playing college football. Changing coaches may or may not help. The scribes at the Silly-Sentinel like quick fixes. Today one of the columnists wants the Dolphins to change quarterbacks because a receiver dropped a pass. Shouldn't they change receivers?

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About the author

DIETER KURTENBACH a Chicago native and 2010 Missouri School of Journalism graduate, has covered Missouri Tigers athletics for KCOU radio and the Columbia Missourian, Major League Soccer for Comcast SportsNet-Chicago, and lunch orders for ESPN Radio-Chicago. Kurtenbach was part of the Missourian team that earned first place in "Breaking News" at the 2010 Associated Press Sports Editors awards, but his real passion is his constant quest to find the world’s best sandwich – if you have a tip, don’t hesitate to send it his way.